Parlor game



I [No mod e1.

.- F. 'PETT'ERSCH.

PIARLOR GAME.

No. 501,844. Patented Jul 18, 1893."

: UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND PETTERSOH, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

' PARLOR GAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,844, dated July 18, 1893.

Application filed March 16, 1893.

To all whom it may concern: Z

Be it known that I, FERDINAND PETrERscI a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Parlor Game, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to games wherein balls or cubes are used to attain certain points and its objects are: first, to prevent the balls from rolling 01f of the board or diagram upon which the game is being played; and, second, to provide for casting the balls or cubes upon the diagram in such a manner that any given ball or cube may be made to count higher or lower according to the position it assumes on the diagram. I attain these results by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1. is a plan of my game in its simplest form. Fig. 2. is the same showing the cup in position to discharge the balls, the balls dispersed over the board, and a diagram upon the surface of the board for the reception of the balls. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the cup and tray, with the tray in position to receive the balls. Fig. at. is the same with the cup in position to discharge the balls, and with pockets in, and legs upon the tray; and Fig. 5 is a plan of the tray or board having a diagram upon its surface, and pockets at the sides to receive the balls, or cubes.

Similarletters refer to similarparts throughout the several views.

My device in its simplest form consists of a shallow tray A which I construct of spun brass or other suitable material, and finish artistically. I attach to this a standard 0, to the top of which I pivot my cup B-and insert any form of suitable spring as D, to hold the' cup, nominally, to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, but sufficiently flexible to allow the cup to be carried over to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4:; and I attach a convenient handle, as b, to the cup, and thus avert the danger of the hand slipping off of the cup when manipulating it, and allow the spring to throw it back suddenly, and break the pivot, or throw the balls outside of the tray.

My plain tray, as shown in Fig. 1, is designed more particularly for use with cubes, as suggested at G, while the forms shown in Serial No. 466,367. (No model.)

Figs. 2 and 5, are designed for use with either balls, cubes, or polygons, as desired.

I do not desire to restrict myself to a particular design upon which to play my game, but have suggested in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, three several designs. In Fig. 2, E and E represent pockets at three points in the tray which project below the tray into the legs H and at F, F and F" are stations; the design of my game being to make use of balls, cubes, &c., that are numbered, and also to have stations and pockets that are numbered, for which I prefer even numbers, as 0, 2, 4:, 6, 650. Thus E would be marked 0; 1?,4; F, 2; E each 6; F",8;and e,Fig. 5,10. If a ball stops wholly over any one of these stations or pockets, it will add the number indicated in the station, to the number on the ball, and if the ball stops wholly within the lines to these stations, one half the number at the terminal station may be added to the number on the ball or cube, and if stopping elsewhere in the tray, simply the number showing on the ball will be counted, &c., though I design that a ball stopping at E shall not count at all. I do not give the above as an arbitrary rule, but simply to illustrate. The pockets E and E in Fig. 2 may be dispensed with, if desired, and the diagram without the pockets placed upon the plain surface of the tray, either by etching, painting, or printing upon paper, or other suitable material, and inserting.

In Fig. 5 the pockets E are shown as separate compartments, one at each side of the tray proper. I design this more particularly for the use of balls. This form is subject to the same rules that control the game as stated in connection with Fig. 2 except that when cubes are used the pockets are utilized to store those not in use, instead of for counting in the game as with the balls.

To play the game, place the balls, cubes, or polygons loosely into the cup when in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 3; then place the fore finger back of the handle I) and throw the cup to the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 4 and the balls will be discharged over the bottom of the tray as indicated in Fig. 2.

With care and dexterity in manipulating the cup a player may become very proficient in controlling the position that may be assumed by the balls,,upon the board.

The spring D may be dispensed with entirely, by pivoting the cup so that its center of gravity is back of the pivot point, or by attaching to its back end a weight b; but I prefer a spring, of some form, as it is more positive in its action, and holds the cup more securely to place.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-' 1. In a parlor game, a shallow tray having a cup pivoted thereto, a spring for holding said cup to position, and balls or cubes to be discharged from the cup into the tray, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in a parlor game, of a shallow tray, a diagram upon the inner surface of said tray, a standard upon the edge thereof, a cup pivoted to said standard, and balls or cubes, substantially-as, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, in a parlor game, of a shallow tray, a diagram and pockets in said tray, a standard upon the edge of said tray, a cup pivoted to said standard to stand, nominally, with the open end up and projecting over the tray, and balls, cubes, or other figures, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

Signed at Grand Rapids, Michigan, this 9th 0 In presence of- ITHIEL J. CILLEY, OHAs. PETTERSCH. 

